Method of and apparatus for detecting leakage in conduits



(No Model.)

T. J. BELL.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTING LEAKAGE IN OONDUITS.

II II ll ll ll ll ll ll II II II H H fl Patented Nov. 21

jnVei azor UNI ED? STATES PATENT OFFICE THOMAS .LBELL, or CINCINNATI, onto.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FDR srnctrrca'r'xon forming part or Letters Patent No. 267,825, dated November 21, 1882.

DETECTING LEAKAGE IN CDNDUITS.

Application filed January 3, 1882. (No modoL) To all whom it may concern city ofUincinnati, Hamilton county, and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Meth ml of and Apparatus for Detecting Leakage in Conduits. of which the following is a specification. 1

M y invention relates to a method of and apparatus fordeteciin g leaks in conduits,wit h refer- (HOP more particularl y to the nndergroundser- Vice-pipes used in cities for couveyingwater through-the streets and houses. Such pipes, being laid in sections with numerousjoints concealed from sight, are extremely liable to injuries from settling of the ground and other causes, by which the joints are opened or the pipes hroken,'while the water apparatus in buildings is also liable to injury from similar causes, and to leakage from careless and improvidi-nt. use of the same. The object of my invention is to enable leaks to be detected in otherwise inaccessible places in such pipes with a view to repairs in the same,

and the correction of abuses in the use of water pivileges.

[n (:3! rying out my invention I avail myself at the \vcll-k'noivn conductivity of continuous lines of metal-such as water-pipes-for sound vibrations, the escape of waterunder pressure fr-unmains or servicepipes-producing a sound more or less distinct, according to the head or pressure or water, the size of the leak-orifice,

and the distance of the same from the point of observation -t hat is,thelength of pipe through which the sound is conducted. 1 have found that by the employment of apparatus suitably constructed for concentrating and amplifying the sound-vibrations thus transmitted through the 'pipes from the point of escape leaks'of even a minute character may be ascertained and located with accuracy. For the purpose of more efliciently carrying out my invention 1' have devised an apparatus for thispurpose, which I is hcreihatter-described. v

Bymy invention I am enabled to detect leaks in the service-pipes of buildings without entering the same, and in the street-mains without; having to resort to expensive excavations for this purpose, thus obviously conduciug to the of the water-supply of cities. It may also be applied with advantge to gas-mains wherethe same conditions exist as already described.

My invention consists, therefore, primarily in thetnethorl ot'ascertainiugand locatin'gleaks' 55. in s'ervicepipes for watengas, &c.,in cities and toivns, by aniplifyingand rendering perceptible the transmitted sound-vibrations cahsed by the escape of fluids under pressure. I I It consists, further, in the employment, as a means of ascertaining and lo at-ingleaks in underground pip'es used forwa er. gas, &c., of a soundconducting rod or its equivalent, to be applied to such pipes at convenient point-,and a sound-amplilyinginstrument for detecting sound-vibrations conducted from the leakage point. a l

It consists, further, in theinstru mcnt, hereinafter described, adapted to be applied to water and gas mains, andthe like, for concentrating and amplifying the souinl-yibrattons"due to leakage, whereby they are rendered audible.

My invention is illustrated in the drawings accompanying this specification, showing a forrnot' apparatus such as I have referred to.

In these drawings, Figure 1 represents my apparatus as applied to an underground water- In iin by means of a rod or key used to turn the stop-cock. Figs. 2 and 3 are central |on-' gitudinal sections through my leak-detecting apparatus, exhibiting two formsof construction. Fig.4 is an end view of the body of the apparatus, and Fig. 5 represents theloirer face of the cap of the apparatus.

My invention may be eflectuated by, any l'orin of apparatus having the functions of a microplu-me and adapted to amplify the sound vibrations transmittettthrough the pipes and render the same perceptible to the senses. The form of apparatus which I have devisedfor this purpose, andwhich 'is illus-' trated in the drawings, consists ssentialLv of ametal diaphragm mounted centrally upon a metallic support in a chamber to which the ear can be conveniently applied.

The device as constructed consists of abody portion, A, of metal or other suitable material, and'a cap, A, constituting the cover of the moreefficient and economical administration or other suitable material, and is'provided [00 with an annular flange, a, by which it is attached to the body A, and has its upper surface concave, as shown, and is perforated, as

. shown ate, for convenient application to the Year. Thecorresponding upper portion of the body-piece A is hollowed out to form, with the cap A, which fits overit, as shown, acha-mber, b, in which, upon 'a stud. b. projecting np'ward centrally from the body-piece A, is mounted a thin metal diaphragm, B. At the extreme lower'end ot the body-pieceA projects a screwth'readed lug, C, which affords a means of attaching the apparatus to the rod or key D,

- which latter is the implement employed to manipulate the stop-cockd, beneath the surface of the ground, in the pipe 11. When the' body-piece A is wholly of metal the stud b and the lug G are preferably made as part of the body, as shown in Fig. 2; but when the body-piece is of wood or other material having a lower degree of conductivity for sound than metal a metallic rod, E, is inserted lonthe cap A,-

- gitudinallythrough the body, the upper end constituting the stud b for supporting-the dia- ,phragm,and the lower end threaded as-a substit'ute'for the lug G, as shown in Fig. 3. t

The most convenient use of my apparatus in detecting leaks in water-mains isas follows: A rod or the ordinary key, D, is inserted into the usual opening or box, a, in the street, provided for access to the stop-cock d in the pipe (1, leading from the street-main F into the house. The rod or key D being fitted upon the plug of the'stop-cock and the microphonic apparatus, before described, being attached to the rod or key D by means of its screw-lug C,

I as shown in Fig. 1,a connection for the trans mission of sound-vibrations is thnsestablished between the apparatus and the water-pipe, when, by placing the ear at. the opening a in the sound-vibrations, caused by the escaping water, or by the passage of water through the pipe on its way to the place of leakage,

may be distinguished, these vibration'sneing transmitted through the pipes and rod to the apparatus described, where they are converted'iinto amplified atmospheric vibrations by meansof the diaphragm, and thus rendered audible. It will bereadily understood that the vibrations due to snch leakage will become more and more perceptible as the actual -localit-y of the leak is-approached and it will beobvious, theref0re,.that by testing at various consecutive points where means of ac oess to the pipessnch as the boxes e-exist the locality of the leak will readily be discovered. a

I have, for the purpose of illustration, shown the microphonic apparatus as applied to the service-pipes bymeans of and in connection with the ordinary turn-key, D, used to manipulate "the stop-cock at the or opening provided for access to the servicepipe leading from a street-main to a building; but it will be obvious that any suitable conductor of sound-vibrations may be em ployedsuch as a wire, rod, dad-connecting the pipe- Having described my invention, claim and desire to seen re by Letters Patent- 1. The method of ascertaining-and locating leaks orimproper use of water in service mains and pipes in cities and buildings, consisting in receiving, amplifying, and converting ,the molecular vibrations induced in such pipes by the escaping water, andconveying the same .to the car by means of suitable microphonic pipes, subapparatus applied to such mains or stantially as set forth. I

2. The microphonic apparatus consisting essentially of a metallic diaphragm centrally mountedupona stud or transmitting-rod in a sound-chamber, and adapted to be applied to water or gas mains for the detection of leaks,

substantially as set forth. 4

3. The herein-described leak-detector, consisting of a body-piece, A, provided with. a stud, b,and lug C, rap-piece A, having an opening, a, and a diaphragm, B, mounted in the chamber formed by the cap and body-piece,

substantially as specified. v

4. The combination of the body-piece A,cap A, stud B, and metal diaphragm B, placed be tween the cap and the body, substantially as set forth. r

5. An apparatus for transmitting the sounds of leakage in fluid-conduits to the ear of an usual sidewalk-box attendant or inspector, consisting of the micro- I phonic leak-detector A and the key D, the latter-adapted to be applied to the cock of the service-pipe, substantially as setforth. THOMAS J. BELL.

Witnesses: t E. R. HILL,

0. P. CAYLOR. 

